-For the Sake of Me

Pairing: Bella/Jared

Summary: Don't leave.

Bella froze as she was about to take the first step on the plane. Edward was waiting, his hand out, that crooked smile on his lips. He came back. Just like she believed. But things had changed. For her.

After Sam had found her, and Jacob's "illness" she put the dots together, confronting the alpha and her best friend. They were different from the family she spent almost a year around. They had this unity.

They were human. They ate. They slept. They drank. They were free creatures. They were real. Human. Kind of. Fresh. Soft. Warm. Jared in particular was light. He was refreshing. His smile like the moon. Warm like the sun.

He was calming. Her anchor to reality. He pulled her out of that black pit and told her to put her head back on. She had a good head on her shoulders and she needed to stay that way. To live for herself. For Charlie. Those bloodsuckers weren't it for her. Not for her shining light.

They laid together, laughed together, lived. A life that was carefree and a drop of her blood didn't put them in a frenzy. He was special. Which is why she was second guessing herself.

Here she was. The love of her life ready to take her away and they could be together forever. A vampire. But every time she thought of a cold one's eyes, they morphed into brown ones. Ones just like her own. Charlie. They'd become so much closer, Charlie finally learning how to cook and the two would have a cooking competition Sunday's. Charlie was getting better and better.

Then she'd see Jared's face. His bronze face, his lopsided smile, his black hair that would get in his eyes. Envisioning herself right by his side. In his arms. Her head in the crook of his neck. His scent of pine and forest.

"Love?" Edward asked shaking her from her thoughts. She scanned the crowd of people, unable to see over the large heads and hats. She looked at Edward, regret in her eyes. "I...can't." She said, taking her foot off the step.

Edward's face crumbled but he hid it immediately. He gave her a nod, a small smile on his face. Though it didn't match his eyes. "I understand. I'll always..." He trailed off sighing.

"I know." Bella said, her eyes watering. She sighed herself and walked back up the steps, wrapping her arms around him. She took a deep breath as he embraced her. "Take care Edward." Bella said.

Edward gave her a chuckle, putting a stand of hair behind her ear. "You too." He kissed her forehead, his eyes closing. "I love you." Bella's heart broke a little, but she wanted something else.

Bella stepped off once again, and her eyes told him she loved him too. She turned around again, her eyes scanning the area. "Oh and Bella?" Edward stated, grabbing her attention once more. "Stay to the right. Go. Before he leaves." He ushered, his head titling to the right. He wanted her to catch the wolf she apparently fell for.

Bella races off, yelling out a thank you, somehow hearing his laugh of "You're welcome!" She pushed past people, weaving in and out, hoping against hope she was going to catch him.

What was she going to say? What was she going to do from here? Did he even still want her? What did she want?

Bella caught tan skin, the tattoo on his shoulder. "Jared!" She yelled, moving past an elderly couple. The older woman smiled, turning to her husband. "Remember when that was us?" Her husband laughed, patting her hand gingerly. "Oh yes. Young love."

"Jared wait!" She knew it was really loud, enough to block a wolf's senses, but her heart fluttered and the butterflies swam in her stomach as he turned around.

He found her immediately, and started to make his way through the crowd. Moving to the right, Bella ducked under a couple swinging their child in the air. She pushed her feet off the ground, warm arms catching her immediately. "Jared..." She sighed into his neck, squeezing him.

"I'm here." He whispered into her ear, his arms snaked around her waist. "Don't leave without me." She said, leaning back to look him in the eyes. "I wouldn't dream of it." He replied, taking her soft lips with his own, the fireworks were just like he'd though they'd be.